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§ 46.2-870 Maximum speed limits generally

Except as otherwise provided in this article, the maximum speed limit shall be 55 miles per hour on interstate highways or other limited access highways with divided roadways, nonlimited access highways having four or more lanes, and all state primary highways. The maximum speed limit on all other highways shall be 55 miles per hour if the vehicle is a passenger motor vehicle, bus, pickup or panel truck, or a motorcycle, but 45 miles per hour on such highways if the vehicle is a truck, tractor truck, or combination of vehicles designed to transport property, or is a motor vehicle being used to tow a vehicle designed for self-propulsion, or a house trailer. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this section, the maximum speed limit shall be 70 miles per hour where indicated by lawfully placed signs, erected subsequent to a traffic engineering study and analysis of available and appropriate accident and law-enforcement data, on (i) interstate highways; (ii) multilane, divided, limited access highways; and (iii) high-occupancy vehicle lanes if such lanes are physically separated from regular travel lanes. The maximum speed limit shall be 60 miles per hour where indicated by lawfully placed signs, erected subsequent to a traffic engineering study and analysis of available and appropriate accident and law-enforcement data, on U.S. Route 17, U.S. Route 23, U.S. Route 29, U.S. Route 58, U.S. Alternate Route 58, U.S. Route 301, U.S. Route 360, U.S. Route 460, U.S. Route 501 between the Town of South Boston and the North Carolina state line, State Route 3, and State Route 207 where such routes are nonlimited access, multilane, divided highways.

History

The record of this law’s original creation isn’t available online. It has been modified 33 times. Those modifications are cataloged by “The Acts of Assembly,” a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly’s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1952, chapter 666; in 1954, chapter 244; in 1956, chapter 364; in 1958, chapter 541; in 1960, chapter 153; in 1962, chapter 307; in 1964, chapters 118 and 408; in 1966, chapter 85; in 1968, chapter 641; in 1972, chapters 89, 546, 553, and 608; in 1974, chapter 528; in 1975, chapter 533; in 1977, chapter 577; in 1978, chapter 605; in 1980, chapter 347; in 1986, chapter 639; in 1988, chapters 662 and 897; in 1989, chapters 276, 526, and 727; in 1992, chapter 598; in 1994, chapter 423; in 1996, chapter 1; in 1998, chapters 546 and 560; in 1999, chapter 142; in 2001, chapter 298; in 2002, chapter 872; in 2003, chapter 838; in 2004, chapter 696; in 2005, chapters 266, 267, and 268; in 2006, chapter 213; in 2007, chapters 222 and 544; in 2010, chapters 26 and 56; in 2014, chapter 91; in 2018, chapters 160, 339, 340, and 345.

Code 1950, § 46-212; 1950, p. 881; 1952, c. 666; 1954, c. 244; 1956, c. 364; 1958, c. 541, §§ 46.1-193, 46.1-401; 1960, c. 153; 1962, c. 307; 1964, cc. 118, 408; 1966, c. 85; 1968, c. 641; 1972, cc. 89, 546, 553, 608; 1974, c. 528; 1975, c. 533; 1977, c. 577; 1978, c. 605; 1980, c. 347; 1986, c. 639; 1988, cc. 662, 897; 1989, cc. 276, 526, 727; 1992, c. 598; 1994, c. 423; 1996, c. 1; 1998, cc. 546, 560; 1999, c. 142; 2001, c. 298; 2002, c. 872; 2003, c. 838; 2004, c. 696; 2005, cc. 266, 267, 268; 2006, c. 213; 2007, cc. 222, 544; 2010, cc. 26, 56; 2014, c. 91; 2018, cc. 160, 339, 340, 345.

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